Chapter 8 - the man in the gray coat)
Miles stopped answering his phone.
His apartment was empty.
His car was gone.
The black folder was gone.
Police issued a request to locate him.
Laura felt betrayed.
For days, Miles had positioned himself as the man trying to protect them.
Now Emily had been terrified by a caller who knew information only a handful of people possessed.
Owen refused to jump to conclusions.
"Miles could be running because he's afraid."
"Or because he's involved."
"Yes."
Laura stared at him.
"Do you trust him?"
"I trust evidence."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only useful answer."
Daniel arrived at Rachel's house under police escort.
Laura nearly refused to let him see Emily.
Emily saw him first.
"Dad."
Daniel broke.
He dropped to his knees and hugged her.
Laura watched from several feet away.
For the first time, she saw not the husband who betrayed her but the father who understood how close he had come to losing his child.
It did not erase anything.
But it complicated everything.
Emily asked him quietly, "Did you tell the man where I was?"
Daniel pulled back.
"What man?"
"The man who called."
"No."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Emily studied his face.
Children were better at detecting certain lies than adults believed.
She finally nodded.
Daniel looked at Laura.
"I didn't know she was here."
"I know."
"Then whoever called wanted her to think I did."
"Yes."
Vanessa publicly denied involvement.
Through her attorney, she accused Laura of creating a campaign of harassment.
She also filed a motion claiming Emily's fear had been intensified by Laura.
Sarah nearly laughed when she read it.
"She's still fighting custody while she's being investigated for fraud."
"Why?"
"Because giving up now looks like admission."
The preliminary custody hearing was scheduled for the following week.
Sarah wanted Emily excused from testifying.
Vanessa's attorney insisted the child had expressed a clear preference for her father and should be heard.
Judge Margaret Halston agreed to speak with Emily privately before determining whether she would testify.
Laura hated the idea.
Dr. Patel prepared Emily carefully.
"You don't have to protect anyone's feelings," she told her.
"You tell the truth. That's all."
Two days before the hearing, a package arrived at Sarah's office.
No return address.
Inside was Miles Harrow's black folder.
Nothing else.
The folder contained copies of financial records Sarah had already seen.
But tucked into the back sleeve was a handwritten note.
SARAH,
IF I DISAPPEAR, DO NOT ASSUME VANESSA IS THE PERSON YOU SHOULD FEAR MOST.
CHECK DANIEL'S FIRST WEST VALE TRANSFER.
M.H.
Sarah immediately reviewed the records.
The first transfer connected to West Vale occurred fourteen months earlier.
Daniel had approved it.
But the recipient account was not controlled by Vanessa.
It belonged to Carter Strategic Services.
Laura stared at the name.
"Carter?"
Daniel had formed the company six years earlier for consulting work.
He claimed it had been inactive.
The transfer was eighty five thousand dollars.
"Daniel received money," Laura said.
Sarah nodded.
"Looks that way."
Laura confronted him.
Daniel denied knowing about the transfer.
"It's my old company but I closed that account."
"When?"
"Years ago."
"The transfer happened last year."
"I didn't receive it."
"Then who did?"
"I don't know."
Owen investigated.
The bank account had been reopened using Daniel's credentials.
The mailing address had been changed to a post office box.
Security footage from the bank showed the person who completed the paperwork.
Vanessa.
Laura expected Daniel to be relieved.
Instead he stared at the image in horror.
"What?" she asked.
Daniel whispered, "That's not what she told me."
"What did she tell you?"
He sat down.
"She said the money was from Eric."
Laura felt a familiar anger rise.
"You knew about the eighty five thousand dollars."
Daniel nodded.
"And you lied."
"I didn't know it came from clients."
"What did you think it was?"
"Vanessa said Eric owed her money and couldn't put it in her own account because of their legal dispute."
"Her husband."
"She still told me he was an ex."
"So you let her hide money through your company."
Daniel covered his face.
"Yes."
Laura turned away.
Every time Daniel admitted one truth, another lie waited behind it.
Sarah asked, "Did Vanessa ever tell you what Eric threatened to expose?"
Daniel lowered his hands.
"She said he wanted revenge."
"Did she mention Victor?"
Daniel's eyes shifted.
Laura saw it.
"You know who Victor is."
"No."
"You do."
Daniel stood.
"I have to leave."
Owen blocked the door.
"Sit."
Daniel's face tightened.
"You can't detain me."
"No. But if you walk out, I'm calling the detective assigned to the fraud investigation and telling him you're withholding information."
Daniel slowly sat.
Laura said, "Who is Victor?"
Daniel looked at her.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Vanessa said Victor could make problems disappear."
"What problems?"
"People."
No one moved.
Laura whispered, "Eric?"
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know."
"Who is Victor?"
"I never met him."
"Then how do you know anything about him?"
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
"Because Vanessa called him the night Eric disappeared."
